Influence of the PKW height on its discharge capacity

Within the framework of Piano Key Weir (PKW) development, the hydraulic optimization of its geometry seems essential. First systematic studies of all the geometrical parameters of the PKW highlight a more important influence of some parameters compared to other ones. A former study led, at the University of Liege, on a large scale model of PKW highlights the main influence of the inlet cross section on the global discharge capacity of the weir. Based on this finding, the geometrical parameters influencing the inlet cross section seem to be the most influential parameters of the weir efficiency. This paper presents results of an experimental study using models of PKW with varying height. The mean non-dimensional parameters characterizing the geometry of the models are maintained constant, only varying the slope of the alveoli. The results of the 7 models studied, with a wide range of slopes (height over length) from 0.25 to 1.5, are presented. Based on these results, an analytical formulation of the unit discharge over a PKW as a function of its height is developed.